wells



(No Modei.)

LAST.'

No. 288,288. Y Patented Nov. 18,1883

lilrvrrnn 'S'rn'rns PATENT GEORGE- M. WELLS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB TO THE SOLIDITY IRON LAST OOMPAhTY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y. v

LAST.

, SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 288,286, dated November 13, 1883.

Appuntion rued May 11,1881. (Narmada.) Y

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. WELLS, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in 'whichf Figure l is a lengthwise section of a last and socket embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a section on line e n?, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a plan oi' the blockfrom the under side.

My invention relates to that class of lasts described in my Patent No. 223,263, dated January 6, 1880; and it consists, mainly, in

holding the block B to the body A of the last y by means of a tongue, c, on the block and a groove, t, in the body of the last, instead of having the tongue in the body and the groove on the block, asheretofore in metal lasts.

"When the groove'is in the block and the tongue on the body, a core is essential in casting the block in order to form the groove; and 2 5 I have succeeded in dispensing with this core by forming theftongue upon the block and the groove on the body ofthe last. This is avery great practical advantage, as it cheapens the cost and also makes a better last. A spring in order to prevent the lblock from dropping off; or the tongue and groove may be dovetailed, as shown. In casting the last the block is cast first, 3 5 and one of the castblocks is applied to the pattern of the body, the body-pattern and block being used for a pattern, the block being left in the mold when the body-pattern is drawn, so that the tongue upon the block forms the groove in the body.. The tongue is widest at the heel end and narrowest at the toe end, instead of widest at the toe end and narrowest at the heel end, as in all other cast lasts known to me.

Another very important advantage of this feature ofmy invention is that the iit of the tongue inthe groove is far closer and better in my improved last than it can be made in cast-metal lasts when the tongue is on the body and the groove inthe block. The reauseful Improvements in Lasts, of which the may be used with a plane tongue and groove,

.the tongue in the son of this is that it is not practicable to cast the block on the body, but the body must, for certain practical reasons well understood by all skilled inthe art, be cast upon the block.

Now, if the body be cast upon the block with a groove in the block, the metal forming body iills the groove in the block, and in cooling shrinks, and therefore makes a loose t 5 but in my cast-metal last the iiuid metal forming the body hows about the tongue on theV block, and in cooling the bulk of the metal forming the body shrinks in such a way as to bring the side walls of the groove closer together, thereby making a very close and perfect fit between the tongue and groove.

I am aware of United States Patent No. 82,951 to Benjamin Hitchings, showing a wooden last with a tongue on the block and a groove in the body; and I disclaim this fea- 7o ture, except in lasts of cast metal, and except when the tongue tapers toward the toe, and the groove tapers also in the same way. Another feature of my invention consists in arranging the block B and stem D so that when the stem is inserted in its socket S the Aheel end oi' the block shall rest against the outer surface of the socket, or against a spring, S', attached to the socket, thereby locking the block firmly in its place.

Another feature of my invention relates to the sole of the last, and consists in forming a ridge, B), parallel with the edge of the last. This ridge is for the purpose of bringing the force of the blow of the hand-hammer or the compressing action of the nailing or pegging machine more directly along the line of the nails or pegs, and thereby settling the stock more perfectly. This ridge, in lasts on which shoes are to be nailed, should extend clear around the sole, but is more desirable at the ball or fore part than at any other part of the last. Another advantage of this ridge is that when roughened by use it can be readily smoothed oft.

1. In a castmetal last, the block B, provided with tongue a, widest near the heel end and growing gradually narrower toward the toe, in combination with body A, having a groove, Ico

e v esegesi;

b, corresponding with tongue a, that is Widest substantially, as described, whereby the block ab the heel end and growing gradually nar- B is looked when the last is'i/n the socket, sub- 1o Tower toward the toe, as described. stantially as described.

2. A metal last having a ridge, R, on the 5 sole parallel with the sole-edge, substantially` as and for the purpose set fort y Witnesses:

3. Ina last, the combination of socket S, NVM. A. MAOLEOD, stem D, and block B, as set forthLand means, J. R. SNOW.

GEO. M. WELLS. 

